Early Warning Signs of a Stroke: Symptoms You Should Never Ignore

Learn the early waring signs of a stroke, how to recognize FAST symptoms and when to seek emergency medical care.

Stroke is a leading cause of death and long-term disability in the U.S. Knowing the earliest signs of a stroke can be a lifesaver. Every minute that a stroke continues, thousands of brain cells die.

The faster you get the right medical care, the less brain damage may happen. That means a better chance of survival with lower risk for brain damage and long-term disability.

Paying attention to changes in your body and telling your doctor about anything not normal is also important. Because getting treatment fast is so critical, it’s good to know not just the signs that you’re having a stroke, but the signs that you may have one soon.

What Are the Early Warning Signs of a Stroke?

Paying close attention to subtle pre-stroke warnings and sharing the details with your doctor may help you prevent a stroke, says the American Stroke Association.

Early signs of stroke  may include sudden:

• Severe headache without a known cause.
• Vision changes in one or both eyes, including loss of vision.
• Numbness or weakness in the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body.
• Confusion or having a hard time speaking.
• Problems understanding speech.
• Trouble walking, loss of balance or feeling dizzy.

Other symptoms may include hiccups, nausea, chest pain, fatigue, shortness of breath and a racing heartbeat.

How to Recognize a Stroke Using FAST

If you think you or someone around you is having a stroke, think FAST:

F – Face Drooping – Does one side of the face droop? Or is it numb? Is the person's smile uneven?
A – Arm Weakness – Is one arm weak or numb? If you ask the person to raise both arms, does one drift downward?
S – Speech Difficulty – Is speech slurred?
T – Time to call 911 

Be sure someone notes when symptoms first started. This will help health care providers decide what the best treatment is.

Do not drive to the hospital or let someone else drive you. Call 911 for an ambulance so that the EMTs can begin life-saving treatment on the way to the emergency room.

Even if your symptoms go away quickly, get medical help. You may have had a transient ischemic attack (TIA),  also called a “ministroke.” Even though they’re short, a TIA is a sign of a serious condition that will not go away without medical help. A TIA can be a sign that a major stroke is coming.

How to Prevent Stroke and Reduce Your Risk

A stroke happens when blood can’t flow to the brain. A blood clot or bleeding in the brain is most often the cause. Each year, more than 1.5 million Americans suffer a heart attack or stroke. More than 800,000 of them die. And although stroke risk increases with age, they can happen at any age.

The good news is that many heart attacks and strokes can be prevented.  While some risk factors,  like age, race, gender, heredity or previous stroke or heart attack, can’t be controlled, many things that raise your risk can be.

Making changes to your habits  can significantly lower your chances of suffering a heart attack or stroke. You can start by choosing healthy habits:

• Eat a healthy, low salt diet.
• Maintain a healthy weight.
• Be active most days.
• Limit or avoid alcohol. 

It’s also vital to:

• Use aspirin if your doctor recommends it.
• Control your blood pressure and blood sugar.
• Handle your high cholesterol.
• Treat sleep apnea.
• Don’t smoke.

Find out more about what you can do to prevent strokes and heart attacks.

Sources: Stroke,  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Signs and Symptoms of Stroke,  CDC, 2026; Preventing Stroke,  CDC, 2024; Stroke Symptoms,  American Stroke Association; Let’s Talk About Stroke, TIA and Warning Signs,  American Stroke Association; Learn & Prevent,  Million Hearts, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2019; Costs and Consequences,  Million Hearts, 2021; Stroke Risk Factors,  American Stroke Association; Risk Factors Under Your Control,  American Stroke Association, 2025; Stroke Risk Factors Not Within Your Control,  American Stroke Association, 2025